Suspects in Woodbridge McDonald’s shooting in custody after manhunt

WOODBRIDGE, Va. (WJLA) – Following an extensive manhunt, both suspects wanted by Prince William County Police in connection to a shooting outside a Woodbridge McDonald’s Monday evening are now in custody.

Both Williams, 28, and Bowyer, 31, were wanted for aggravated malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

At 7:23 p.m. Monday, Prince William County Police tweeted that there had been a shooting outside the McDonald’s at 2891 Dale Blvd. They later reported that the shooting had happened at about 6:49 p.m.

The 23-year-old shooting victim suffered a superficial, non-life-threatening injury and was taken to a hospital for treatment, police say. Authorities also said the unidentified victim went to the McDonald’s to meet Bowyer, who showed up with Williams, who has been in trouble with the law a number of times before, according to court records.

Williams reportedly drove away after the shooting; Bowyer fled separately. When officers spotted Williams’ vehicle at Neabsco Mills Road and Dale Boulevard, the alleged shooter drove into the parking lot at Freedom High School and ran away, before carjacking a second man near Jefferson Davis Highway and Neabsco Mills Road.

The carjacking victim, who was not injured, called police after Williams got out of the car at the intersection of Jefferson Davis Highway and Delaware Drive.

A manhunt, which included police dogs and a helicopter, was on for Williams and Bowyer until late Tuesday afternoon; Williams was believed to still be armed and dangerous. Police said Tuesday morning they didn’t believe Williams, who was later found in the Montclair area of Prince William County, was in the immediate area.

Williams was spotted by a local worker, with whom ABC 7 News spoke by phone.

“[Williams] came up to the truck and said, ‘Somebody’s chasing me—some people are chasing me.’ And I said, ‘Well, do you want me to call the police?’ and he said, ‘No, I already called them,’” the worker said. “He said, ‘Could you give me a ride up to the Burger King? I’ll be alright.’ I said, ‘This is a company truck; I can’t take you in the company truck.’”

That encounter set off a whirlwind of police activity; officers seemingly covered every block and were even on the water. When the worker refused Williams a ride, he fled into the woods. Police soon caught the alleged shooter after a brief chase.

“I could’ve been killed,” the unnamed worker told ABC 7 News. “If [Williams] had gotten in my truck, he could have pulled the gun on me and commandeered my truck, or had me drive him someplace … I’m glad that everything turned out OK.”